The Expanse Season 1 Episode 5 That’s not to say all of the characters are likable. Miller is certainly a gruff if tenacious detective, and viewers usually like their investigators a little rough around the edges. Although his attitude towards Havelock’s arrangement with the Belter prostitute seemed unfair (it’s actually quite endearing), he obviously was feeling protective towards his partner who had just survived a brutal attack. Who can blame him for mistrusting the motives of his partner’s supposed language tutor? And speaking of feelings, Miller seems to be motivated to find Julie Mao not just out of respect but perhaps because he has a little crush on the rich girl turned OPA agent. The small progress he was able to make in this episode had, as usual, a very subtle payoff, but its unexpected nature really sold it. A memory chip inside a mechanical mouse? Not your average hiding spot! And not a word was spoken during his discoveries; it was all visually communicated to great effect. Is Fred Johnson to be trusted? The flashback sequences in this episode dub him the “Butcher of Anderson Station,” and the massacre of striking miners concerned about the health conditions of their families certainly was shockingly cruel. If Johnson is now working for the OPA out of remorse for his actions a decade ago, perhaps he’s uniquely positioned to understand the politics involved. It’s unclear how his work on the Mormon’s generation ship in last week’s episode applies here, but Johnson is an interesting character nonetheless. Chrisjen Avasarala, the stoic U.N. manipulator, was notably absent this week as the voice of those on Earth, and because of the despicable actions of the U.N. Navy under Colonel Fred Johnson eleven years ago, the home planet doesn’t garner much sympathy. The question is whether the audience will side with the Belters, the OPA, the Martians, or just whomever they like. Choosing sides hasn’t been easy.
